piercing an adolescent or, everything you wanted to know about modification but were afraid of your parentsA few years ago I decided to go and get my navel pierced. This was the first of a series of actions that I decided that I will carry out completely spontaneously. I had freshly turned sixteen and had heard of a surgury clinic that did body piercings. I set out with a friend who also wanted to pierce his navel and fifteen dollars (!) later I had a normal ear-ring pointing from my belly. I was extremely proud not only because of the piercing but because I had acted on impulse for the first time in my life.
My self-perception boosted, I had forgotten the ramifications that such an act would have on my happy family. I had always avoided the stereotypical adolescent male image of a boy arguing ferociously with his mother and father about trivial adolescent issues and this pierce would have probably been the point at which I become the 'teen' I never was. This worried me somewhat but I thought that I'd hide the pierce till it had healed properly and then everything would be alright as long as I didn't wear the ring whilst topless in the family pool.
The navel took a long time to heal to the point where I could take it out and effortlessly replace it. Because I don't have the usual 'deep' navel, my ring soon migrated and the thin bit of flesh holding it was ready to rip off. I took the ring out and acted spontaneously for the second time. I went to a cheap little fashion beautique and had my nipple pierced. This in turn created three seperate problems. The first was that a nipple piercing would be harder to hide from parents than a navel pierce (I wore my pants up high when topless). The second problem was that the piercing was done with an ear-piercing gun and thus created the risk of a second rejected ring. The third and largest problem was that my nipple was not fully developed. Suprisingly the ring did not migrate, my nipple enlarged around it and now I have one nipple larger than the other. But the problem of hiding it was terribly difficult and frustrating. For all I knew my parents could have been completely at ease about the 'modification', but I didn't feel brave enough to push my luck.
Some months had passed and my nipple began to play up. It had enlarged irregularly. Not only was the nipple big, but the entire brown part around it was erect like a little cone. The other nipple had still not developed and I was so lop-sided that I had difficulty keeping balance. I came to the conclusion that my hormones were just messing around. After a while I reluctantly removed the ring and now I have nipple that is so sensitive that it hurts when it gets cold. When someone hit me on my left nipple I had a bruise-like sensation for several weeks. Only now, at the age of eight-teen are my nipples finishing their development.
Since those two 'alterations' I have acted spontaneously a few more times - I now have a tattoo on my hip and two self-pierced hafadas - modifications in areas that that are not seen by my parents. My mother has since expressed her opinions as to tattoos and body-piercings (she is against them) and I think the parent-offspring harmony that has always existed is beginning to shatter now that my mother is getting suspicious about my massive left nipple and the two small vertical scars near my navel. In conclusion, I want to warn all other young intending body modificationists not to act spontaneously (or not as spontaneously) and to consider two things:
- will your parents approve and if not, how will they not find out
-and secondly, don't kid yourself about the maturity of your growing body. If it isn't ready, it isn't ready (there are plenty of alternatives).
Update: LA's Tattoo & Piercing(s!)Hello, BME readers!
Well, it's been a year since the story of my tattoo & tragus ring has been told. The tattoo healed perfectly, and to this day, is still as gorgeous as ever.My tragus healed with -no- problems at all! It's now sporting a 12 ga circular barbell, and is very happy indeed.
I've currently convinced my mother to pierce her nose, as well as allow me to pierce my own! I will write an experience on that for those of you interested as soon as the deeds are done.
Have my morals changed much in the past year?
Absolutely not. I still believe that body modifications are beautiful, amazing things. I'm very thankful that my parents understand this, and agree with me on it. It's figured that if I do it, I may as well get it done where it's done skillfully and with sterility. Beats a safety pin, as we all know =)Thanks!
LA